Alright, before anything starts, I just wanna say that I don't own the Disney characters so credit goes to their company. Also I really hope that this story does offend anyone with it being about WW2 and all because I know that it is a really touchy subject so I apologize in advance because I'm telling you right now, I went beyond to do my research and if there are any facts that are beyond what really happened, I'm really sorry. I tried my best. Pus, I kinda had to alter some things in order to make the story work. I'm just an average fanfic writer, not a history professor. So without further adieu, I present the first chapter of: "The Paper-Girl."
It was a normal Tuesday in the town of Basternack, Poland. I opened my eyes, and closed them immediately after being blinded. The sun's light was seeping through the gap between my curtains to warm up my right cheek. The vintage clock on my dresser displayed the time: 6:30, which meant I was late for my job. I quickly got out of bed and rushed through my morning routine; brushing my teeth and a quick, warm, bath.
After freshening up, I put on my uniform: tan trousers, a white dress shirt, my plaid raw umber-colored blazer, fallow crew socks, and my brown-leathered bluchers. I had a multiple of white shirts, but sometimes I used my blouses or anything else that was white and had a winged collar. Sometimes, I'd wear my high-waist pants instead of my trousers. I tied my hair up with two, teal, hairbands, separating my hair into three sections and made sure my shirt was tucked in. The last thing I did to prepare was put on my golden earrings given to me by Mother. After looking myself over in my vanity mirror, I looked to the hat stand on the right. On it, was the proud symbol for what I do for a living. It was my woolen, dark olive-green, news cap. I adjusted it on my head and smirked at my reflection. On my way out, I grabbed my navy blue mail bag and quickly climbed down the stairs. I noticed that Father wasn't up yet, but decided not to disturb him. The last thing I did was lock the door before shutting it.
The outside air's scent was a mixture of stone walls and hay. I strode through the street and checked my pocket watch. I scoffed once I looked at the face of the clock; there was no way I would make it in time…if I kept taking this street. My house was located in the outskirts of town, so it would be a while if you were to walk the whole way. I scanned for the alley way that would save me time, the "short cut" as I called it. Hopefully it wasn't blocked off today…Thank goodness…I thought when I saw the main street right across the alley way. I rush over, not paying attention to my surroundings. There was a loud neighing sound on my left. I looked up and saw a horse rearing up. I gasped and stepped back onto the sidewalk. As the horse started carrying its cart off, the driver had yelled angrily back at me.
"Watch where you're going Ms. Arij!" I looked back at him sternly while I waited for the right time to cross. As soon as it was all clear, I refitted my hat and ran to the newsstand.
"There you are." I heard a voice say. Kronk Riese was the young man who ran "Niebieski Gołąb" newsstand in our town.
"I'm…I'm…not too late…am I?" I panted between words. I checked my pocket watch: 6:52.
"Maybe by exactly…twenty-seven minutes." Kronk checked his watch. For me, seconds, minutes, or hours, being late was a pitiful mistake to commit. "How's your father today?" he asked me as I was catching my breath.
"He's well." I replied.
"That's good to hear. Hey, it's almost September." I knew what Kronk was referring to when he said that. I started thinking about how September was the month that I wouldn't know whether I should dread or not. "So, how old would you be? Hello?" he asked. I snapped out of my phase.
"Huh? Oh…um, sixteen. I'll be sixteen." I replied quickly. I checked the map that defined my route for the day and traced the red line with my index finger.
"That's wonderful. Alright, here you are." Kronk filled my bag with enough rolled up newspapers for my route.
"Thank you." I thanked my friend and headed off into the streets once more. By this time in the morning, the streets were starting to get busier. I strode, satisfied, through the streets, throwing papers at the porches of houses. The weather gradually grew warmer with each block I finished. Some people were awake, and others were not. Meg and George Bartoszek came out of their house, laughing, and started chasing each other playfully through the street towards the town café. Those two were the meaning of, "happy couple." I thought to myself, "Would I ever find love like that?" But I wasn't focused on finding a boy right now. Mrs. Forrester was watering her plants when saw me. She waved to me and I waved back, tossing a paper onto her doorstep. The morning went on with me greeting neighbors and throwing papers harder at the doors of the people I didn't get along with. The old woman on the corner of Bereza Street, Ms. Gothel, cursed at me again for being an Arab. I've gotten used to her over time. I was finished with my deliveries by 11:00 and walked back to the newsstand for my wage. I came back to Kronk, simply reading the paper we were distributing.
"Twenty minutes more than your record." He informed me. I would sometimes ask him to time me while I made the deliveries.
"I guess today's not my day." I replied as I chose out two papers for Father and I. Kronk opened shelf on the stand table and handed me my money. I counted eight złoty and fifty-two groszy. "Thank you, Kronk." I beamed at my friend.
"You're welcome, take care! Greet your father for me!" he called out as I turned away to walk. Just before going home, I had to go to the market place and buy fresh liver for the cat. I made my way along our town's everyday citizens. When I entered the crowded street where the marketplace was held, the air's scent changed from sweat to peppers, potatoes, wheat, turnips, and the other food that was sold. I couldn't help but have a look at everything being sold as I made my way to the meat stand. I always loved visiting the market place's warm and welcoming colors.
"Jasmine, dear!" I heard a woman's voice call me from behind. I looked at the tomato stand and saw Carlotta, the fruit lady.
"Dzień dobry, Carlotta!" I waved at her from where I was standing and then made my way to her spot.
"So, any highlights in the news today?" she asked me as she organized her wares.
"I don't know, I didn't read it." I replied, a bit disappointed with myself.
"Ah, it's okay. I'll just have to wait until I get home." She said without looking my way once. Costumers started pushing through me to buy vegetables, but it honestly didn't matter to me. I had to get liver for Rajah, and get home. I ordered for 1½ pounds and wrapped it in butcher paper. I started my walk home with the packaged meat with my hands when I heard another person calling out my name.
"Jasmine!" I recognized that voice anywhere. I turned around to see my best friends Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle. I gladly joined them under the lamp-post where they stood, talking.
"Hello." I greeted. They were all dressed in their everyday dresses, while I wore clothing that a boy is supposed to wear. Cinderella had her family dog, Bruno, alongside her, and Belle was reading another one of her books. Ariel leaned against the wall of the café chewing gum, while Aurora braided a strand of her hair. Cinderella and Aurora were sisters, except their parents favored Cinderella more because she had "admirable traits", which didn't matter to any of us. We walked into the café to sit down and talk.
"Cinderella, your birthday is soon!" Aurora announced. Ariel offered me a piece of chewing gum, but I declined.
"I'm going to have the best birthday celebration, you'll see. Mother and Father agreed to have it in the dance-hall." Cinderella flipped her hair and gave Bruno a scratch on his head. Her birthday was seventeen days before mine. She always threw extravagant parties when it came to celebrating her, but I noticed Aurora's choices would be limited. "When you all attend, I want all of you to wear your best!" Cinderella sounded so excited.
"I shall look forward to it." I said and kicked at the ground.
"So, newsgirl, what's the scoop on today's paper?" Ariel asked. Ariel had actually just turned sixteen earlier this month.
"I haven't read it yet," I shrugged with the liver in my right hand. "Most likely it will be about what's going on in Britain."
"My family's really worried right now about the government. We're thinking of moving to Paris in September." Belle told them.
"Oh goodness!" Aurora said in surprise. We were all shocked by this.
"Surely you won't move before my party?" Cinderella asked and took her by the hands and shook her.
"Oh no, if we do move, it will be near the end of the month." Belle explained. Everyone was happy to hear this, but I felt discouraged, realizing that my own birthday was near the end of the month as well.
"I must go ladies, I'll see you all tomorrow?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Certainly."
"Mhm." They all agreed in unison.
"Alright, goodbye then." I walked away from my friends and back all the way to my home. The keys jingled as I took them out to open the door. Once it opened, I entered quietly. "Father?" I called.
"In here, daughter!" he answered. I was relieved to hear his voice. He was in the kitchen, drinking tea.
"Good morning, Father! I brought today's paper." I cheerfully announced to him as I laid it on the table for him to read.
"Oh goodness, thank you, Jasmine." He adjusted his spectacles to read the paper properly. I sat next to the radio to hear anything about the conflict between Britain and Germany. As I listened for the right station, I heard a "meow" as my cat, Rajah, walked in. I immediately recall that I was still holding the wrapped-up fresh liver in my hands. I quickly made my way to the kitchen counter and cut out a piece for his meal. After taking care of my beloved pet, I sat down next to the radio again.
"Not much has been said since the last report on Germany. Britain and France are still in collaboration with each other…" I sighed and thought about this world and why there had to be so many problems. I look to the paper and read the headline:
"Herr Hitler Replies to the British Ambassador's Note of Yesterday
When Sir Neville Henderson delivered the British note last night at the Chancery in Berlin, Herr Hitler received him in person. The contents of the correspondence are still being kept a close secret and neither side has released any details.
This afternoon, in the Commons, the Prime Minister took great pains not to let any cats out of the diplomatic bag. However, it is unlikely that either side has changed its basic policy. Germany's claims against Poland remain the same: to incorporate the free city of Danzig and the Polish Corridor within the German Reich; claims that are in contravention of the Treaty which Germany signed with Poland in 1934.
... Herr Hitler says that he wants to promote better understanding between Germany, Britain and France...
Herr Hitler says that he wants to promote better understanding between Germany, Britain and France, as long as they don't get in the way of what he considers to be a 'just settlement' in Poland.
Britain too would like to improve her relations with Germany, but the British Government feels that they must hold fast to the Pact that they signed with Poland last week, which would involve Britain immediately, should Poland be attacked by another country.
One ray of hope, in this otherwise gloomy scenario, is that at least the two countries are still communicating - the moment they stop the prospect of war will be very close indeed."
"Very close? It will happen indeed! Hitler won't back down from them, not a chance!" I yelled out, frustrated, as I slammed my fist on the dining table.
"Now daughter," Father preached, "don't stress yourself over these things. You're just a young lady! Leave the adults and men to all this…war nonsense." I couldn't believe what he was saying.
"Nonsense? This will affect my future! Our future! Japan has already started with Manchuria, it's only a matter of time now until we're all slaughtered." I explained to him as if I was the parent and he was the child. "This will ruin everything! There will be problems with resources! We would be killing each other out in the streets like barbarians!"
"Keep, your voice, down! You'll sound like a lunatic from outside!" Father had put down his paper and scolded me with a harsh whisper. "Now, we just need to be careful and stay in-line. In these times, it isn't wise to call attention to yourself."
"That is what I'm talking about! You know, if we hadn't been so careful from the start, Mother would still be alive!" I yelled in anger. In my head, I was already regretting that I had said that. My father gave me a look that I instantly knew, I was in trouble. He went back to reading and the only sound in the dining room was the radio, which was now playing piano music. I marched out, up the stairs, and into my room. I threw my mailbag onto my bed and slammed the door. I look out the window and see the young children coming home from school. I thought about my days in school when I was that age.
I lived in Berlin, the reason being propaganda (at least, that's what my parents explained to me), and I was able to attend grades 1-4. We were rich at our time there, but everything gradually dropping after Mother had…passed away. After that dreadful day, Father and I moved to Poland. Life here was different. We lived off the pathetic amount of money that the government sends to us through the bank. One of the things I found odd as a little girl, was that we were ordered to hang a small Flag of Nejd in front of our door. I wasn't able to attend school here, but I did try to educate myself as much as I could by going to the library. I used to wear cute dresses, just like the other little girls back then and now. I turned to look back at my vanity table where I had a photograph of Mother displayed against the mirror. I slowly walked over to the table to pick the framed photo up and look at it. "I love you, my flower…" she'd say to me in the softest voice. I wanted to smile upon seeing her face through the glass in the frame, but it wasn't really her. It was just an image. I put the framed photo back on the tabletop and quietly opened my door. I treaded lightly down the staircase and stopped halfway. I put a hand on the wall and leaned back against the wooden railing. On the wall were the family pictures from when my Father and Mother were just married, up until the strong of photos of just Father and I, which the last one was taken just this Summer. There were only seven pictures of the three of us, complete. The last eight felt like we weren't whole anymore. After reminiscing, I noticed that the radio had been turned off. I peeked into the dining room and saw Father, asleep in his chair. I quickly made my way from the staircase to the front door, where I slipped away from the house.
I took my watch out of my pocket and read the time; 2:37 in the afternoon. I decided I would head to the library. I kept my hands in my pockets as I walked through the main street. When I got to the building, the bell jingled as I opened the door. As soon as the door closed, silence reigned throughout the room. I slinked to the very back of all the shelves, and there was Belle, reading a different book than the one she was reading earlier today.
"Belle," I whispered. She looked up from the pages as I sat down next to her against the wall. "So you're moving by the end of this month?" I asked.
"Yes, if nothing goes wrong." She answered.
"I see." I looked down. The issue was that Belle was a Jew. I remember as kids, that the five of us, Aurora, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, and I, used to play just fine together despite how our society felt. We weren't aware of our differences, all we knew is that we were friends. As the years passed, we still kept our friendship, but we had to be cautious. If this war is going to happen, then I'd do anything to keep our friendship from being torn apart.
"So what will you wear to Cinderella's party?" she asked. I had to think before answering. "Don't tell me you're wearing your work-clothes." She smirked.
"No, I'm going to wear a dress." I crossed my arms and acted snooty just to be funny. We both laughed.
"Shh." The librarian had caught us talking too loud and threatened that if we disrupted the silence, he'd make us leave. All we could do was read, and so I read along with Belle. I looked at the time and it read: 7:00 exactly.
"Oh, I must be going. Curfew is eight o'clock." Belle got up and returned her book on the shelf. I stood up and dusted myself off. We left out the door together and found ourselves out in the eerie streets. The dark crept from every direction with the only source of light being the few lamp posts around the block.
"Are you sure you're okay walking home by yourself? I can walk you if you like." I offered. It was as safe as stepping onto an open bear trap during these nights.
"Oh no, there's no need to. Goodbye!" she bid farewell.
"I'll see you tomorrow Belle!" I called and waved as I proceeded to walk home. When I stepped into the house, I had come home to the dining table with a plate of bread, cheese, and hummus. I grinned at a little note saying: "Sorry for yelling at you. My cooking skills aren't as good as yours, hope you forgive me." Now I felt bad. Ate my dinner peacefully and went to bed as usual.
The next morning, I woke up on the usual time, 6:00 at sunrise. I stretched, dressed, made breakfast for Father, and made myself a small sandwich for lunch. I walked all the way from my house to the main street on the lonely dirt-road. The wind brushed through my hair as I walked. I got to the newsstand and saw Kronk, who looked very cheerful.
"Good morning!" I greeted.
"Good morning, squirt!" he greeted back. "Here are the papers today." He told me as he brought out the pile of rolled up newspapers for the day. "Did you tell your father I said 'hi'?" he asked. I suddenly felt guilty because I had forgotten due to the argument I had with him.
"No, I have forgotten." I answered in a quaky voice.
"That's alright." Kronk just laughed it off, turned, and got back to his work. This was the sign that I had to get on with mine. I checked the map once more for the route I was taking today and headed forward.
I'm back. (Yay!) Sorry I'v been gone for so long, high school is tough for me. So how'd you like it? If you did, great, if you didn't, that's okay too. If there's anything you guys wanna tell me about this story, or anything I should keep in mind of for the future plot, go ahead and tell me in the reviews. I don't bite. :) So hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you guys in the next chapter of whatever I update because I'm hopping between 2 stories right now XD.
Read on, and your imagination will stay strong!